Method of making low gravity gas



Aug. 28, 1934. A. F. `KUNBERGER METHOD OF MAKING LOW GRAVITY GAS Filed March 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug@ m m4., A. F. @Mmmm l TMW-mm METHOD OF MAKING LOW GRAVVlTY GAS Filed March 2, l929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 AW, E@ Mim- A. F. KUNBERGM METHOD OF MAKNG LOW GRAVITY GAS Filed March 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 m9 mim.,

@f MMM A. F. KUNHEHQEW LWMWWM METHOD OF MAKING LOW GRAVlTY GAS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 28 1934., A. F. KUNBERGER METHOD OF MAKING LOW GRAVITY GAS Filed March 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTI IOFFICE:

to The United Gas Philadelphia, Pa., a vania Application March 2,

' 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of combustible gas for domestic or industrial distribution.

In such gas distribution, there are frequently available several supplies of gas of dissimilar 0 carburetted water gas for the peak load, or there may be available a widely varying supply of coal gas supplemented as needed by carburetted water gas. In either case, due to the locations of the sources of supply, with respect to the distribution system, consumers may be supplied at one time with straight coal gas and at another with straight carburetted water gas.

To maintain eicient operation of the consumers appliances, it is necessary either to maintain the caloric power and specic gravity of the gas supplied within narrow limits or to make readjustments of the consumers appliances.

Carburetted water gas manufactured according to the usual practice and matchable with coal gas in caloric power is too high in specic gravity to permit .eiiicient operation of consumers appliances when switching from coal gas to carburetted water gas without readjustment.

The present invention is'addressed to the provision of a process of manufacturing a gas of lower specific gravity than present carburetted water gas.

The process permits the variation of both the caloric power and specific gravity of the gas within wide limits, so that a gas may be made available which is replaceable for coal gas or other gas supply, as, for instance, reformed oil gas, without inefficient appliance operation or the necessity of appliance readjustment.

The process has the advantages of the usual carburetted water gas process, in that it may be put in operation or discontinued, quickly and economically, making it available as a source of peak or other supplemental gas.

The invention will be described in connection with the attached figures which form a part of this specification:

In the drawings,

Figure l is an elevation with parts in vertical section of an apparatus adapted to carry out my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a modified apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 2 with parts broken away.

Improvement Company, corporation of Pennsyllezs, serial No. 344,023

(ol. 1s-205) Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another modification of my apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5 with parts broken away.

Referring to Figure 1,

1 generally indicates a water gas generator, provided with the fuel bed 2, and `further provided with the air blast supply means 3 and the steam supply means 4 for up blasting and up steaming the fuel bed.

The generator is further provided with the gas off-take 5 leading to storage, and the connection 6 which leads off intermediate the ends of the fuel bed to the carburetter 7. 'Ihe carburetter may be provided with the checker brick 8 and with the oil supply` lmeans 9. The carburetter is in communication with the vessel l0, which has a lling l1 of ferrous material, preferably hematite ore. The vessel 10 is provided'with the steam supply means 12 and is in communication with the stack 13, which is provided with the stack valve 14.

The generator 1, the carburetter 7, and the Vessel l0 may be the generator, carburetter and superheater of the ordinary carburetted water gas set.

In operating the process of the invention in the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, the fuel bed is blasted with air, supplied through 3, the resultant blast gases passing from the fuel bed through connection 6 to the carburetter, storing a portion of their sensible heat therein and from thence to the vessel 10 and through the hematite ore within it. The carbon monoxide in the blast gases reduces the surface of the ore to iron sponge. At the same time the ore is highly heated by the reaction and by the sensible heat of the blast gases. From the vessel 10 the blast gases pass to the stack and issue through the valve 14 to the atmosphere. If desired they may of course be passed through a waste heat boiler before passage to dizing the iron sponge to iron oxide. The hydrogen and the excess steam pass through the carburetter 7 to the generator l. The gas is carburetted in the carburetter 7 by the admission of oil through 9 and the mixed hydrogen, oil vapors and oil gas and excess steam pass into and through the upper portion of the fuel bed 2. The oil vapors are fixed therein and the excess steam reacts with the fuel to form further hydrogen and carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide depending on the temperature.

Simultaneously with the admission of steam at 12, steam is admitted to the generator at 4, and passed upward through the fuel bed 2. The steam reacts with the fuel in the lower portion of the fuel bed to form water gas, which passes through the upper portion of the fuel bed together with the hydrogen and oil gas, the mixed gas passing to the off-take 5.

After the temperatures in the fuel bed and the ore have decreased sufficiently to make a reheating necessary, the steam is shut off and the air blasting of the fuel bed and the reduction of the iron oxide is-repeated.

Referringl to Figures 2, 3 and 4,

101 generally indicates a water gas generator provided with the fuel bed 102, and further provided with the air blast and steam supply means 103 and 104 respectively for air blasting and steaming upwardly through the fuel bed.

The generator is further provided with the steam supply means 105 for down steaming.

The generator is also provided with the combustible gas off-takes 106 and 107 leading from above and below the fuel bed and provided respectively with the valves 108 and 109. These off-takes lead through connection 110 to the wash box 111. The wash box is provided with the offtake 112 leading to a place of storage, not shown.

The generator is provided also with the offtake 113 for blast gases, leading through the valve 114, to the igniter 115. 116 is a secondary lair supply means. The igniter communicates by the connection 117 with the waste heat boiler 118, which is connected to the stack 119. 120 is the stack valve. 121 is a stack valve on the igniter and 122 a steam supply means for admitting steam to the igniter for a down-run through the fuel bed.

The generator above the `fuel bed is also connected by means of the connection 123, provided with the valve 124 with the hydrogen generator generally indicated as 125. The hydrogen generator is provided with a ferrous filling (preferably hematite ore) 126. The hydrogen generator is connected to the igniter by connection 127.

The hydrogen generator 125 is provided with the steam supply means 128 and is further provided with the gas Yoff-take 129 provided with valve 130 leading to the wash box 131, which is furnished with the off-take 132 leading to storage.

The hydrogen generator is also connected to the wash box 111, by means of connection 133 provided with valve 134.

In operation the generator fuel bed 102 is blasted with air, the resulting blast gases passing in whole or part to the hydrogen generator depending on the setting of valves 114 and 124 in connections 113 and 123.

The sensible heat of the blast gases heats the hematite ore 126 in the hydrogen generator 125 and the surface of the ore is reduced to spongy iron by the carbon monoxide content of the blast gases, the carbon monoxide being oxidized to carbon dioxide. This reaction further heats the filling 126. From the hydrogen generator the blast gases pass by connection 127 to the igniter, where combustion of any remaining carbon monoxide may be completed by air supplied at 116. The blast gases then pass through connection 117, the waste heat boiler 118 to the stack 119, and through the open stack valve 120.

After the blasting operation is completed, the stack valve 120 and valve 114 may be closed and steam admitted to the hydrogen generator through steam supply means 128.

The steam reacts with the spongy iron of the filling and is decomposed to hydrogen and oxygen, the oxygen oxidizing the spongy iron to iron oxide. This hydrogen together with the excess steam may be passed through connection 123 to the water gas generator 101 and down through the fuel bed 102. The steam reacting with the fuel to form water gas which passes through gas off-take 107 and the valve 109 to the wash box 111, valve 108 being closed, as well as valves 130 and 134.

This operation may be followed by an up-run in the water gas generator 101, valves 134 and 114 remaining closed, valve 109 and valve 124 closed and valve 108 opened, and steam supplied through 104. The resultant water gas passes to the wash box 111 by way of connections 106 and 110.

After this operatiton the cycle may be repeated.

Instead of passing the hydrogen and the excess steam from the hydrogen generator through the Water gas generator they may be passed by way of the take-olf 129 and the valve 130 to the wash box 131, and led off to a. separate storage through off-take 132. Or it may be led to wash box 111 by way of connection 133 and valve 134 and mixed with blue water gas produced by down steaming the water gas generator with steam supplied at 105. In the latter case valves 114, 130, 124 and 108 are closed and valves 134 and 109 are open.

Instead of the above procedure it may be desirable to segregate a portion of the hydrogen produced in the hydrogen generator by leading it to the wash box 131, and to mix the remaining portion with blue water gas, either by passing it through the water gas generator or by leading it through connection 133 to the wash box 111.

If desired, the steam for the hydrogen generation in the hydrogen generator 125 may be admitted to the igniter 115 at 122 and superheated in its passage through the igniter, passing from the igniter to the hydrogen generator by way of the connection 127 and thence through the lling 126 of the hydrogen generator. 'I'he use of superheated steam will cool the filling less and require less frequent reheating. This steam supply means 122 may be likewise used for the down-run through the water gas generator 101. It may be desirable to introduce steam to the igniter 115 at 122, superheat it in the igniter, and then divide it passing a portion to the hydrogen generator 115 and a portion directly to the water gas generator 101.

In the above described operation, a cycle was outlined consisting of an air blasting operation in the water gas generator 101, heating and reducing the iron-oxide in the hydrogen generator 125, followed by hydrogen production in the hydrogen generator 125, and the simultaneous production of water gas in the water gas generator 101 by a down-run of excess steam from the hydrogen generator 125 or directly applied steam or both, followed by an up-run in the Water gas generator 101.

This procedure may be considerably varied.

The steam up-run in the water gas generator may precede the hydrogen generation and the steam down-run through the water gas generator.

`The down-run in the water gas generator with excess steam from the hydrogen generator may be followed by a down-run with steam not passed through the hydrogen generator. The water gas generator may be employed for one or more cycles entirely as a water gas generator, and then a portion of the air blast gases may be diverted through the hydrogen generator and a cycle performed having hydrogen generation in the hydrogen generator as a step.

The low specific gravity gas produced by the combined operation of the hydrogen generator and the water gas generator may be mixed with carburetted water gas of suitable caloric power produced in the usual manner to provide a low gravity carburetted gas suitable for distribution and replaceable for coal gas.

The specific gravity of the mixed gas may be controlled by controlling the amount of hydrogen production in the hydrogen generator.

The specific gravity of hydrogen is 0.069.

The specific gravity of blue water gas varies with the amount of hydrogen and other constituents including inerts contained therein, an example is 0.56.

The specific gravity of carburetted water gas is, for example, 0.63.

The specific gravity of the mixed gas depends upon the proportion of blast gas made in relation to blue water gas or carburetted water gas made during the same cycle before another blast is made. It may vary from that of hydrogen to that of carburetted water gas. An example is, if 2650 cu. ft. of blast products are made per 1000 cu. ft. of blue water gas and containing 25% CO, if 40% of the CO is converted to hydrogen, the mixed blue water gas and hydrogen has a specic gravity of 0.47, and when carburetted and containing 20% oil gas, will have a specic gravity of 0.54.

Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7.

201 is a water gas generator, provided with the fuel bed 202 and further provided with the air blast supply means 203 and the steam supply means 204 for' up blasting and up steaming respectively. The generator may be-further provided With the steam supply means 205 for down steaming. The Water gas generator is provided with the gas off-take 206, furnished with the valve 207 and leading to the wash-box 208. Thev water gas generator is further provided with the blast gas off-take 209, provided with the valve 210 and leading to the carburetter 211. 212 is a secondary air blast supply. The carburetter is provided with the oil supply means 213 and is connected by the connection 214 to the superheater 215. The superheater is provided with the connection 216, furnished with the valve 217 leading to the wash-box 208.

The superheater is also provided with the stack valve 218 and may be provided with the steam supply means 219.

Besides the connection 209 to the carburetter 211 the generator 201 is also furnished with the connection 220, provided with valve 221 and leading to the hydrogen generator 222.

The hydrogen generator is provided with the lling 223 of ferrous material (preferably hematite ore). The hydrogen generator is also provided with the connection 224 leading to the carburetter 211, and With the -steam supply means 225.

226 is the gas off-take from the wash-box 208 to storage.

The water gas generator 201. carburetter 211 and superheater 215 may be the vessels of an ordinary carburetted water gas set. Several methods of operation will be described.

The water gas generator fuel bed is blasted with air, valves 207, 210 and 217 are closed, valve 221 and the stack valve 218 are open. The resulting blast gases pass from the top of the fuel bed through connection 220 to the hydrogen generator 222 and through the hematite ore filling 223. The sensible heat of the blast gases heats the filling and the carbon-monoxide of the blast gases reduces the surface of the hematite ore to the iron sponge, the carbon-monoxide being oxidized to carbon-dioxide. The latter reaction further heats the filling.

The blast gasespass from the hydrogen generator through connection 224 to the carburetter, where the combustion of any remaining combustible constituents may be completed with air supplied through 212. The blast gases then pass through the connection 214 and through the superheater 215 to the stack, storing heat in the carburetter and superheater. l

After the air blasting operation, valve 207 may be opened and the stack valve 218 closed. Steam ls admitted to the hydrogen generator 222 through steam supply means 225. The steam is decomposed by contact with the hot iron sponge on the surface of the lling, the oxygen oxidizing the iron to ferrous oxide (FeO), and the hydrogen, thus formed, with the excess steam passlng through connection 220 and down through the fuel bed of the water gas generator, the steam reacting with the fuel to form Water gas, which together with the hydrogen passes through the oif-take 206 to the wash-box 203 and from thence through connection 226 to storage.

After this step, valves 221 and 207 may be closed, valves 210 and 217 opened and steam admitted to the base of the water gas generator 201 and passed upward through the fuel bed 202, the resultant Water gas passes through connection 209 to the carburetter 211 where it is carburetted with oil supplied through oil supply means 213. The gas then passes through connection 214 to the superheater 215, where the oil gas is fixed and from thence through connection 216 to the wash-box and from thence to storage.

After this step the above cycle may be repeated.

Instead of supplying steam for hydrogen generation in the hydrogen generator 222 and for the down-run through the water gas generator 201 at 225, all or part of this steam may be supplied to the superheater at 219, superheated in the superheater and carburetter and passed back through connection 224 to the hydrogen generator. Also a part of the steam may be applied directly to the Water gas generator 201 at 205.

In these steps valves 210, 217 and 218 are closed and valves 221 and 207 are open.

In the cycle, a down-run through the water gas generator 201, Without the passage of steam through the hydrogen generator 222 may be made as desired by admitting steam at 205 vor 219. In this step, valves 221, 217 and 218 are closed, and valves 210 and 207 are open.

'I do not wish to confine myself to the particular order of steps above described. The blasting operation, for instance, may be followed by an up-run with steam through the water gas gen era-tor, the water gas being carburetted in the carburetter and superheater, followed by a step of hydrogen generation in the hydrogen generator combined with a down-run in the water gas generator, followed by a down-run in the water gas generator without hydrogen generation in. the hydrogen generator. Or the down-run through the watergas generator alone may precede the combined step of hydrogen and water gas generation.

Instead of passing all of the blast gas through the hydrogen generator to the carburetter, a portion may be passed directly from the water gas generator to the carburetter by way of connection 209, if it is desired to store more heat in the carburetter and superheater.

This division of the blast gases may be performed during the cycle or a cycle containing the step of hydrogen generation may be interposed at intervals after one or more cycles of ordinary carburetted water gas production. Or a cycle of ordinary carburetted water gas operation may be interposed at intervals after several cycles containing the step of hydrogen generation.

The particular choice of operating cycle will depend among other considerations on the proportionate amounts of hydrogen and carburetted .water gas it is desired to produce. The operating cycle may be varied to give the proper balance of temperature conditions in the various vessels over a wide range in the proportionate quantity of hydrogen produced.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the quantity of carbon monoxide generated during the air blasting of the fuel bed is appropriate for producing the required quantity of hydrogen, and further that in the case of manufacturing carburetted water gas the quantity of carbon monoxide generated during the air blasting depends upon the carburetion required.

claim:

1. A method for making low gravity combustible gas; which comprises the following steps; one step being, air blasting an ignited fuel bed producing blast gas, storing heat in a chamber by partial combustion therein of said blast gas with air, reducing iron oxide and heating the metallic iron by contact with said blast gas; another step being, generating hydrogen by passing steam in contact with the heated metallic iron thereby converting it into iron oxide, carburetting the newly made gas in said chamber by the addition to it of a hydrocarbon and passing it through said heated chamber; and another step being, generating water gas by steaming the fuel bed, and.

producing a low gravity gas by admixing the water gas and the carburetted gas.

2. A method for making low gravity combustible gas; which comprises the following steps; one step being air blasting an ignited fuel bed producing blast gas, storing heat inv a chamber by partial combustion therein of said blast gas with air; another step bei-ng, reducing iron oxide and heating metallic iron by Contact with said blast gas, superheating steam by passing it through the heated chamber, generating hydrogen by passing an excess of superheated steam in contact with the heated metallic iron thereby converting it into iron oxide, generating water gas by passing the hydrogen and excess of superheated steam through the fuel bed and leading the gas so produced to storage; and another step being, and then ceasing the generation of luydrogen and commencing the generation of water gas by passing steam up through the fuel bed, passing the water gas so produced through the heated chamber, carburetting the water gas in the heated chamber by the introduction of a hydrocarbon, fixing the hydrocarbon in the water gas in the heated chamber and leading the gas to storage.

3. A method for making low gravity combustible gas; which comprises the following steps; one step being, air blasting an ignited fuel bed producing blast gas, storing heat in a plurality of chambers by partial combustion therein of said blast gas with air, reducing iron oxide and heating the metallic iron by contact with said blast gas; another step being, superheating steam by passing it through the plurality of heated chambers, generating hydrogen by passing an excess of superheated steam in contact with the metallic iron thereby converting it into iron oxide, generating water gas by passing the hydrogen and the excess superheated steam and superheated steam direct from the heated chambers through the fuel bed, leading the gas so produced to storage; and another step being, then ceasing the generation of hydrogen and beginning the generation of water gas by passing steam up through the fuel bed, leading the water gas so produced through one of the heated chambers, carburetting the water gas by the introduction of a hydrocarbon to the heated chamber, xing the hydrocarbon in the water gas by passing the mixture through the secondary heated chamber, and leading the mixture to storage.

4. A method for making low gravity combustible gas; which comprises the following steps; one step being, air blasting an ignited fuel bed producing blast gas, storing heat in a plurality of chambers by partial combustion therein of said blast gas with air, reducing iron oxide and heating the metallic iron by contact with said blast gas; another step being generating water gas by passing steam up through the fuel bed, carburetting the water gas so produced bythe intro duction of a hydrocarbon to one of the heated chambers, fixing the hydrocarbon in the water gas by passing the mixture through the secondary heated chamber; and another step being, then ceasing the above mentioned up-run and commencing the generation 'of hydrogen by passing superheated steam introduced to the heated chambers in contact with the heated metallic iron thereby converting it into iron oxide, at the same time generating water gas by passing down through the fuel bed the hydrogen and superheated steam direct from the heated chambers, then ceasing the generation of hydrogen and commencing vthe generation of water gas by pass ing steam down through the fuel bed.

5. A process of making low gravity, combustible gas, which process comprises the following successive steps: one step being, air blasting an ignited fuel bed producing blast gas, storing heat in a chamber by passing aportion of said blast gas through said chamber, by-passing the remaining portion of said blast gas around said chamber, and reducing iron oxide and heating the metallic iron by contact with said by-passed portion of said blast gas; and another step being, generating hydrogen by passing steam in contact with the heated metallic iron thereby converting it into iron oxide, and carburetting the newly made gas in said heated chamber by the addition carburetting the newly made hydrogen gas in said heated chamber by the addition to it of a hydrocarbon in said heated chamber, and passing said carburetted hydrogen gas through a portion of the fuel bed, simultaneously with said hydrogen generation running steam through said fuel bed thereby generating water gas, and mixing said carburetted hydrogen and said water gas during their passage through a portion of the fuel bed.

ALBERT F. KUNBERGER. 

